Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Torture And Mythology

As Judge Mukasey stated in his letter answering the Congressional imputations:
"I would not want any statement of mine to provide our enemies with a window into the limits or contours of any interrogation program we may have in place and thereby assist them in training to resist the techniques we actually may use."
There was a similar myth in Vietnam, one that everyone has heard at one time or another -- the helicopter story.
a Vietcong infiltrator had been shot the night before and was awaiting burial.
With the chopper in the air, they returned for the other officer and hustled him out. Pointing to the Huey, they said, "Now see what happens to your pal."

At that moment, the corpse was thrown out, just far enough away so no details were apparent.
The second officer considered his interests and told the GIs exactly what they wanted to know. At which point his jacketless, capless companion was brought out of hiding for a good laugh all around.